By NewsBlogger The US House of Representatives passed a bill that could potentially remove TikTok from US app stores, citing concerns about Chinese ownership and national security risks, with bipartisan opposition and further legislative action expected.
At a glance
- US House of Representatives passed a bill to potentially remove TikTok from US app stores
- Bill requires Chinese firm Bytedance to divest from TikTok and other apps within 180 days.
- Legislators argue about national security risks due to Bytedance’s ownership.
- Bipartisan opposition to the bill, including concerns about unintended consequences
- Debate includes arguments about national security, user privacy, and the impact on social media use.
The details
The US House of Representatives recently voted to pass a bill that could potentially remove TikTok from US app stores.
The vote succeeded with a significant majority of 352-65, with most of the “no” votes coming from Democrats.
The bill, if enacted, would require the Chinese firm Bytedance to divest from TikTok and other apps it owns within 180 days.
Legislators argue about potential national security risks
Legislators argue that Bytedance’s ownership could potentially give the Chinese government access to user data on the popular social media platform.
The bill must also receive a successful vote in the US Senate and be signed by the President before it can become law.
Bipartisan opposition to the bill
The bill has received bipartisan opposition, with some notable figures such as Representative Jim Himes and Ilhan Omar expressing their disapproval of the potential ban.
Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene voted against the bill, citing concerns about unintended consequences for social media use.
House Speaker Mike Johnson is expected to introduce further legislation to address Chinese ownership of TikTok, which would give Bytedance six months to divest from the platform.
Former President Trump has openly opposed the bill, expressing his concerns about national security risks associated with TikTok.
Members of the House were briefed on TikTok by the FBI, Justice Department, and intelligence officials, while lawmakers have also been contacted by teenage TikTok users who oppose the legislation.
The TikTok company itself has been lobbying against the bill, emphasizing that it is not owned or controlled by the Chinese government.
There have been mixed political reactions to the bill, with the Biden campaign embracing TikTok to reach young voters while the Trump campaign has largely avoided the platform.
Trump has indicated a reversal in his stance on banning TikTok, adding to the complexity of the situation.
For the bill to pass into law, it requires approval from the Senate and the President.
The House vote was conducted under the “Suspension of the Rules,” requiring a two-thirds majority for passage.
The potential ban on TikTok has sparked debates among lawmakers, with impassioned arguments being made on both sides.
Opponents of the bill argue that TikTok’s close ties to the Chinese government pose a significant national security threat, potentially allowing for spying on American citizens.
However, proponents of TikTok argue that the platform provides a valuable tool for Americans and that singling out TikTok for a ban would be unfair.
Notable figures such as Robert F. Kennedy have expressed their opposition to the ban, while Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has declined to support the bill, citing concerns about the rushed nature of the legislation.
Critics argue that the bill is a superficial response to larger concerns and could have negative consequences for those who rely on TikTok for various reasons.
Overall, the debate surrounding the potential ban on TikTok is complex and multifaceted, with lawmakers grappling with issues of national security, user privacy, and the impact on social media use in the United States.
Ultimately, the decision on the fate of TikTok will require careful consideration and deliberation from all stakeholders involved.
Article X-ray
Sources
Here are all the sources used to create this article:
Facts attribution
This section links each of the article’s facts back to its original source.
If you suspect false information in the article, you can use this section to investigate where it came from.
| independent.co.uk |
|---|
| – US House of Representatives voted to pass a bill that could remove TikTok from US app stores – The vote succeeded 352-65, with majority of nos coming from Democrats – Bill would require Chinese firm Bytedance to divest from TikTok and other apps it owns within 180 days – Legislators argue Bytedance could give Chinese government access to TikTok user data – Bill requires successful US Senate vote and Presidential signature to become law – Bill received bipartisan opposition – Representative Jim Himes and Ilhan Omar were not in favor of the potential ban – Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene voted no, citing unintended consequences for social media use – House Speaker Mike Johnson due to bring legislation to address Chinese ownership of TikTok – Bill would give ByteDance six months to divest TikTok – Former President Trump opposes the bill – House members received classified briefing about TikTok from FBI, Justice Department, and intelligence officials – Lawmakers have been contacted by teenage TikTok users opposing the legislation – TikTok company lobbying against the bill, saying it is not owned or controlled by Chinese government – Trump expressed concerns about national security risk with TikTok – Biden campaign has embraced TikTok to reach young voters – Trump campaign has avoided the platform – Trump has indicated he has reversed his stance on banning TikTok – Senate and Biden’s approval needed for bill to become law – House vote requires two-thirds majority under “Suspension of the Rules” – TikTok is widely used and positively viewed, making a ban difficult and controversial – Robert F Kennedy opposes the ban – Lawmakers debating the bill with impassioned arguments from both sides – Opponents say TikTok is close to Chinese government and could spy on American citizens – Proponents argue TikTok provides a useful tool to Americans and banning only TikTok is unfair – Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez won’t support the bill, citing rushed nature – Opponents argue bill is superficial response to bigger concerns and could damage those who rely on TikTok |
